Child sexual abuse charges are some of the most serious and consequential allegations that can be made. A simple accusation of child abuse can have drastic negative effects on the accused person’s life. Even if a person accused of child abuse is not convicted, they can still suffer repercussions.

It may be hard to imagine but, as with any criminal offense, people can be falsely accused of crimes of abuse. There may be many reasons that someone may be falsely accused, and the truth is often difficult to uncover. Because such an accusation is so serious, there are certain steps that a person falsely accused of child abuse can take to protect themselves.

What to Do if You’re Falsely Accused

Above all, it is necessary for a person who has been falsely accused of child sexual abuse to realize the seriousness of the allegations. A conviction for child abuse can send a person to prison for years and effectively destroy their social life, reputation and career. By firmly acknowledging the gravity of child abuse allegations, the falsely accused person can begin to defend themselves. Their next steps should include:

Obtaining competent and experienced legal representation

As soon as false accusations are made, the accused person should immediately begin the process of hiring a sex crimes attorney. However, they should not simply hire the first lawyer that they find. They must carefully search for a defense attorney who specializes in child sexual abuse cases, specifically those which involve false accusations. This is, by far, the most important step in defending against false charges.

Refusing searches and questioning without a warrant or a lawyer present

Many times, law enforcement or Child Protective Services will try to contact the accused individual for questioning or to search for evidence. To defend against these intrusions, the accused person should firmly refuse any searches unless there is a warrant. As per the Miranda warnings, they should also refuse to answer any questions or give any statements unless their sex crimes attorney is present. In this way, the accused individual will protect himself or herself from any misconstrued statements or evidence tampering.

Hire a private investigator

A private investigator should be hired immediately after securing legal representation if the chosen child abuse attorney does not provide an investigator. A private investigator is the only person (other than an attorney) who should contact the accuser or the accuser’s family. The investigator can also help with finding credible defense witnesses and evidence of misconduct by the accuser.

Fighting false allegations of child abuse is very difficult and should only be undertaken with the help of a licensed legal professional. An experienced sex crimes attorney can help the falsely accused person to develop a strategy to protect their innocence.